Abstract: A manufacturing process for the preparation of a, a-branched alkane carboxylic acids, by reacting a mono-olefin or a precursor thereof, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a strong acid catalyst characterized in that the starting olefin is a dimmer C8 or trimer C12 derived from n-butene, which predominantly comprise 2-butene, that the acid catalyst is composed of BF3/H3PO4 in a molar ratio of BF3:H3PO4 in the range of from 0.5:1.0 to 5.0:1.0, or of CF3SO3H, that the weight ratio of the catalyst relative to the mono-olefin is in the range of from 1:1 to 10:1, that the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 60 to 140° C., and with an initial water content in the catalyst system in the range of from 8 to 25 wt %; and vinyl esters and glycidyl esters derived from said carboxylic acids.

Abstract: It is herein disclosed a novel catalyst systems comprising:a) a source of cations of Group VIII metals, selected from palladium, cobalt and nickel;b) a source of anions andc) a source of bidentate ligands of the formulaR.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 --R--M.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4wherein each of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently represents a phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or nitrogen atom, R represents a bivalent organic bridging group containing at least two atoms in the bridge and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent substituted or non-substituted hydrocarbyl groups with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents an aryl group at least containing as substituents (i) at one or both ortho positions with respect to M.sup.1 or M.sup.2 to which the aryl group is linked, a hydrocarbyloxy group and (ii) at a meta position, adjacent to a substituted ortho position, a hydrocarbyl group or at the para position a halogen atom.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of copolymers of carbon monoxide and one or more ethylenically unsaturated non-aromatic compounds by contacting the monomers, under polymerization conditions, with a catalyst system consisting essentially of palladium, a bisphosphine ligand and a source of anions, derived from the conjugated base of acids having a pKa of less than 4, in the additional presence of a 1-alkenyl substituted arylgroup containing compound.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of copolymers of carbon monoxide and one or more ethylenically unsaturated compounds by contacting the monomers, under polymerization conditions, with a catalyst system comprising a) a source of cations of one or more metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and b) a bidentate ligand, and c) a minor amount of a compound containing a hydride moiety. Copolymers made by this process generally have low molecular weights.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon employs a novel catalyst composition formed from a compound of palladium, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus wherein the divalent group bridging the two phosphorus atoms is 2-hydroxy-2-alkyl-1,3-propylene.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, preferably propylene, includes an aromatic amine in the catalyst composition formed from a palladium salt, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus. The presence of the aromatic amine reduces the proportion of 3-alkyl-2,5-furandiyl moieties present in the polymer chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst system, which comprises a source of a Group VIII metal and a polyphosphine. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated compounds utilizing this catalyst system.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon employs a novel catalyst composition formed from a compound of palladium, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus wherein the divalent group bridging the two phosphorus atoms is 2-hydroxy-2-alkyl-1,3-propylene.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, preferably propylene, includes an aromatic amine in the catalyst composition formed from a palladium salt, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus. The presence of the aromatic amine reduces the proportion of 3-alkyl-2,5-furandiyl moieties present in the polymer chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst system, which comprises a source of a Group VIII metal and a polyphosphine. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated compounds utilizing this catalyst system.